Morning journal and courier., 1887-05-09

which she orders the ladies attending court to wear Her jewels are superb. The mini ature crown is almost hidden beneath folds of white tuile, and the TOW of orders on her
 majesty's breast is en imposing one. Below the dais at the leit side the lord chamberlain stands, with white wand m one hand. At his feet there is gildeG bas- ket, into which he throws the cards as hs reads the name of each person to be received by the Queen. This he does in clear voice as each lady makes her appearance at the
 door opposite, below the dais and at the right side of it. If the prime minister at
 tends he stands below the dais on the right,
 near the door at which the people to be Gre ceived" enter.
 All the time that the royal party are as-
 sembling in the throne room the crush in the
 ante-room is getting dense, as each carriage
 in it's turn drives up and "sets down" it's load
 of eager court goers. Here there is no pre-
 cedence observable. The first corners are the
 first into the royal presence. The string of
 carriages begins to draw up as early as
 twelve o'clock. Their occupants submit to
 wait in the cold, sitting in an uncomfortable
 position for more than two hours in order to
 be among the first to pass the barriers. Some
 of the ladies bring novels to read, and par
 ty in carriage, attired in court dress, has
 been known to sit playing cards during what
 the actors call a s'long wait"
 Once inside the palace 6 high old sensa-
 ton begins. A barrier is placed at the
 end of 8 corridor leading to the throne
 room. Through this each lady must pass
 singly. This is done quickly possi-
 ble, so many presentations going to each
 hour. As soon as one lady has passed the
 Queen and started on her exit another ap-
 breaches Her majesty usually remains
 about an hour and a half in the throne
 room, leaving the Princess of Wales to re- eeive the later presentations. There is intense desire to be received by the Queen herself among the ladies. The consequence is crush for the barrier such as no one would believe unless they were to witness the fashionable fight. It resembles nothing so much as the struggle for the turnstile of the pit entrance of a popular theater when great star is announced Each lady as she enters gathers her three yards of train up and disposes it carefully as may be over her arm. Then she pulls her tulle lappets CT veil round and puts the ends over the same arm. Thus equipped she enters the fray. where, as in an ordinary crowd, if she is strong she wins. It needs strength mentally we'll as physically, for her efforts are stared at and duly criticised l by others who have themselves done exact | ly the same thing, but with indifferent success. The more 8 lady has been to | court the more she pushes for the barrier. Her directions and precautions having been previously made plain to her charges, they gird their trains and 1appels closely to them and bravely follow in her wake, ob- serving, as far their thews and sinews will allow, her repeated injunctions to fol- l low her closely.
 l The barrier once gained and passed the battle is over and nerves take possession of l the successful one; especially if of tender 1 years. In the corridor one of the gentle l men of the household kindly unfolds the l train and pulls back the tulle veil, and if | he is polite man says reassuring word I IoI, 1so oL, perone usually passes the Queen first. She l enters by the door previously mentioned, l to the right of the dais, her name being read as she appears. She goes straight up 1 before her majesty and makes courtesy to l the ground directly in front of her. She l half rises and extends her right hand, over which the Queen rlaces her left hand. The l lady presented then courtesies again, bend l ing low over the royal hand. The Queen 1 then withdraws her hand, which some of the | ladies touch with the lips, and the lady be- 1 gins her exit from her presence. The door at which she must go out is the whole length of the room from her, being opposite to the dais and at the lady's left as she backs to- l ward it. She must courtesy as she goes, en- ! deavoring to measure her distance so that it l may allow of a separate courtesy for each l royal person present.
 l Occasionally debutante faints when she i emerges from the throne room, and some l times 8 presentation has to be postponed | through the girl about to be presented get
 ting literally sick from fright. Such emo 1 tionai misses are, however, rare, although a | sigh of relief is a frequent expression of | feeling when it is all over, even from those l who afterward declare they quite enjoyed it. 1 The Qneen kisses a duchess the cheek l as she passes before her. The most rigid
 formalty is, however, always observed, even
 to those who are on intimate terms with her l majesty, when the occasion is a drawing l room.
 The cost of attending this courtly function | is no small matter. The dress itself avera-
 ges in price from fifty pounds to five hun | dred pounds. Ladies who can indulge a taste for fine faces may even double the lat
 ter amount in buying dress. Then the
 bouqeet at this time of year is expensive,
 and bouquets must also be provided for the | coachman and footman. Altogether the guinea stamp of rank-a presentation to the l Queen-is not to be attained without time
 and trouble being expended-and money too; but the latter expenditure is alwaps "good
 for trade," as Lord Alfred Paget pointed out